showing up 45 min late for a ADR? on purpose?

[mojara]

Hi,
In a few weeks we are taking a long-awaited trip to WDW, just my 8 year old and me - and I would love to have breakfast at 1900 Park Faire with Mary Poppins and tried to make ADR but could only get one at 10:20 on any of the day we were there). I would have prefered to get a reservation either first thing in the AM or late in the morning so we could be at MK for its opening at 9am. We are staying at AKL and if we go to MK for 9am, we can hardly get into the park before we'll have to turn around to get the monorail (which the guidebooks say will take 29 minutes to get from MK to the GF since it goes counter clockwise). I will keep calling to see if another time opens up, but if it doesn't - would it be possible to show up at 11:10 (or so) for a ADR that was really at 10:20? I know that I would risk not being able to get a table at all, but might it be possible? What do you think? It must be really popular because I checked for 4 days and this was the only time I could get!!

 

[Sibahan]

I would just make it a late going to the park day.... take your time getting up in the morning.......They probably will not let you have the ADR late....
at least in my own experience. We were like 10 min late, and they were kinda aggervated, in a nice way....i cant imagine 40 min late!

 

[mojara]

That sounds so much easier - just going there to start with and going the park late that day - but we are only going to be in WDW for 3 and 1/2 days and that is the day we're planning to go to MK and I feel this pressure to get there early so my little guy can experience some less-crowded early-morn time (he's got some special needs and has difficulties when it gets more crowded, lines are longer, etc.). I guess I need to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of even going to the Mary Poppins brunch (and actually - the less crowded that was when we were there, the better too - and I assumed very early or close to the end might be less crowded, but who knows). Thanks for your thoughts! I appreciate it.

 

[debbiepump]

Well, if you were one of the folks that had ADR's for 11:10 or whatever time you make it there and had to wait, how would you feel? At other restaurants, I've seen Disney turn away folks for showing up later than 15 minutes or so for their ADR's. I hope you get lucky and the time you want, otherwise, just go with the flow.

 

[Tricia1972]

Unfortunately you may just have to make a decision as to which is more important to you. More time in the MK or eating at 1900 Park Fare. I don't think that showing up that late would work for you.

Until you make the decision to ditch MK first thing in the morning - keep on calling and post your request in the ADR Request/Cancel thread in this forum. You never know what opens up. Even if you are AT Disney and still are looking for your elusive early reservation - still check. Concierge can be your best friend, and it doesn't hurt to call 407-WDW-DINE. We were there Easter week last year and secured a great time for Boma calling a few days out as we sat in Kona for breakfast.

(Breakfast times are from 8am - 11:30 here - I am not sure what time their last seating is, it may be before 11:20)

 

[Newcastle]

Mojara,

I know that this is slightly off topic but I noticed that you mentioned that your son has some special needs and difficulties with lines/crowds. Have you considered possibly getting a GAC (Guest Assistance Card) for him? There is a sticky (disABILITIES FAQs) over on the disABILITIES forum that provides some great information about the GAC. We use this for our son who has autism and it makes an otherwise impossible trip possible and much more tolerable for all of us!

 

[angelle]

mojara,

Mabe you could try crystal palace, we ate their twice in dec. for breakfast. We had adr an for 8:10am. We were allowed in the park early and took alot of pictures in front of the castle. We checked in about 10 min late. We booked this at the conteporary conc. after we arrived. After breakfast we went to the barber and were 1st in line when they opened. The kids got the special sparkel and color. We enjoyed getting a head start on the day and the kids love the "parade" in the crystal palace with tigger, pooh and friends.

 

[laughinplace199]

I think you need to pick either the breakfast or MK park time. The restaurant will probably cancel your ADR if you don't show up at the appointed time. Last April, we thought we were going to be late for one of our ADR's, so I called Disney Dining to see if there were any later times available. There weren't any later time slots open, but the CM told me that the restuarants will keep your ADR for 15 min after the designated time, but after that they cancel it.

Have you tried getting an ADR for CP instead? I know it's not Mary Poppins, but at least you'd be in MK. That might help a little.

Have a fun trip!

 

[Eeyore's Tailfinder]

I'm not telling you to go ahead and do it, but on our last day, we checked in for our flight at DTD WestSide in plenty of time, but the queue was very very slow moving, and then to top it all off we couldn't get a bus for love nor money outta there. We had a breakfast ADR at Chef Mickey's, and I was really upset to miss breakfast with Mickey on our last day. But by chance we flagged down a taxi, and made it 40mins late to the check-in desk - I told her our original time and said we couldn't get a bus from DTD. We had to wait around 15 mins but then we got to sit down. Maybe it was just a slow time for them, I don't know - but it sure made my day

 

[mojara]

Thank you all for your help! I will keep calling and ultimately choose between the two - and I'm also going to keep trying to get breakfast with Cinderella - that is what my son most wants to do. Thank you for all the suggestions and help!!

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

Thank you all for your help! I will keep calling and ultimately choose between the two - and I'm also going to keep trying to get breakfast with Cinderella - that is what my son most wants to do. Thank you for all the suggestions and help!!

Your son wants to eat with Cinderella? That's different. I wish my boys were into that stuff so I could enjoy the princesses and all that girly stuff!

 

[dck12ga]

Correct me if I am wrong... don't you have to pay for Cindy's when you make reservations?? So if you do not show up at the correct time, you lose your money too??? I would not take that chance. My two cents.... It would be wrong to do it anyway!

 

[ironz]

There is also a boat that goes from MK to GF, so that may be quicker (and more direct) transportation.

If it's not crowded when you go to MK at rope drop, and you have a good plan of what you want to do, you can likely get in several rides by 10.

 

[septbaby]

Answer: I woudn't do it on purpose

If you can go to MK on an EMH morning and it opens at 8am and you have a "hot list" of rides you like to hit first thing you really can get lot done in 2hrs. If you board a boat or monorail shortly after 10am you'll be fine to make your ADR.

Another option is to take your son to the great AKL pool then head over to GF for breakfast. Your cup can always be half full at Disney!

Keep in mind MK usually stays open pretty late, so you should have a lot of time to take it all in. Be sure to remind yourself that you CANNOT see or do it all in 3 1/2 days; so don't try and you will save yourself and your son a lot of stress.

We are guilty of arriving very late for an ADR. We had trouble getting from MK to MGM (not the easiest thing to do) and we way underestimated how long it would take(original plan had us coming from EPCot, piece of cake trip, but a certain 6yo needed his Goofy's Barnstormer fix! ). Our ADR had been moved to the cancelled list, but the manager took care of us anyway, including our Fantasmic passes. He didn't have to, and I am grateful that he did. We still had to wait for a table and we watched many walk ups get turned away.

 

[MinnieGi]

Since you really want CRT, have you thought about getting an ADR for lunch there? That way you could get to MK early at RD and enjoy all the rides and then after the riding fun have a meal with the princesses in the castle and get some autographs.

 

[Calgary DISHeads]

At the risk of being extemely flamed.... if you really want to do this... call ahead to the restaurant explain that you have been unavoidably detained... and as always in the most humble voice let them know you will be late. Hate to say it, but it works. To be fair, have only used this in extreme situations ie: lanyard pin through my DS knee cap etc but WDW restaurants in my exp. are very forgiving if the reason is right. Personally, what is right for you - is right.

 

[ConnieB]

Ok, we've only made it it MK once this week, but when we came back to the parking lot GF was the FIRST stop...so it took maybe 5 minutes, not 29. I know the entire circuit of the monorail is supposed to take 20something minutes, but if MK to GF is only one stop away, then it's very probable you'll be much earlier than you think.

In fact, now that I think about it....we have reservations in one day for BBB at the castle, then to GF for tea and photos in the afternoon and then back to MK for dinner at the Castle.....and the ADR person said no problem getting from BBB to the tea, but that we were cutting our time short to return to MK from GF because the monorail ride was all the way around the parks/resorts, so we upped our time by 30 minutes and she felt that was sufficient.

 

[dck12ga]

Are you saying that it is OK to lie???? Tell me you are not!!! That is what is wrong with people these days!!!! It's all about you and to H*@@ with everyone else!!!! What makes you so special that you are above everyone else??? "What is right for you - is right." So are you the one who pushes my children aside and stand in front of them so YOU can see the parade?? Are you the one who cuts in line when we have been waiting to see a character?? I sure hope you have your flame retardant suit on, because you are wrong, it is NOT ok to lie!! Do what is right!!! Take responsability for yourself and your actions!!!

 

[ElizabethB]

Well, talk about getting your knickers in a knot! Not okay to lie? Tell that to the candidates running for president. In fact, tell it to our current president.

Anyway, in our experience they will try to accommodate you if possible if you arrive late for your ADR time. We once misunderstood the time we'd reserved at Tony's Town Square and arrived something like 25 minutes late (thinking we were 10 minutes early). We had to wait but they got us in. No guarantees, of course, but in my experience they certainly try.

As for Cinderella's Royal Table -- try for lunch. The Princess lunch is great fun.

 

[Nom]

I personally don't think it is right to make an ADR for one time and purposefully come late to get your preferred time- it inconveniences too many people- but the fact is that disney allows it. They will take you no matter how late you come- just another flaw in their system and another reason that they should move to a traditional reservation system.